Men armed with hammer steal cash from Fratton betting shop

TWO men, one armed with a hammer, stole £350 from a betting shop in Fratton.

Police are investigating the armed robbery which happened at Ladbrokes, in Kingston Road, yesterday.

Two men, with their faces covered, entered the shop shortly before 5pm.

One of them, who was wearing a mask and carrying a rucksack, jumped over the counter while the second man, who was wearing a tweed flat cap with a scarf over his face, walked around to the till area carrying a hammer.

The men demanded money and took cash from the till before damaging the front window of the store with the hammer.

They then ran off towards Lake Road.

No-one was seriously hurt in the incident.

Officers are keen to hear from anyone who was in the area at the time and who may have seen what happened.

Anyone with information or who knows who the men involved were should contact Det Con Matt Curson at Fratton Police Station on 101, quoting 44160310355. The investigation has been named Operation Slither.

A 34-year-old man, from Portsmouth, has been arrested on suspicion of robbery in connection with this investigation and is in custody.